Osteoporosis means “porous bone.” Our bones may seem rock-solid, but the tissue (and yes, it’s living tissue) is constantly being created and destroyed. As we age, the process can skew toward bone destruction, leading to porous, weak bones that break easily—a condition called osteoporosis. The good news is that there are many things that prevent osteoporosis, including weight-bearing exercise, proper nutrition, and medication.

Bones are flexible enough to give a bit when physical force is applied, but if that force is too great, they'll snap like a plastic ruler bent too far. Luckily, they also repair themselves naturally. Here's how it works.